The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Hampshire increased by 276 over the weekend amidst the fear of spread of delta variant in the coounty, official figures reveal.

Public Health England figures show that 65,790 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (June 21) in Hampshire, up from 65,514 the same time on Friday.

The health body recently changed the way it records the figures.

Cases identified through a positive lateral flow test – those which can deliver results within half an hour – will no longer be counted if the person then takes a PCR test, which is sent to a lab to be checked, and receives a negative result within three days.

These cases are now being removed daily.

The rate of infection in Hampshire now stands at 4,759 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 7,186.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 29,614 over the period, to 4,640,507.

Hampshire's cases were among the 558,157 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 2,349 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.